The Hindu : Scribe, photographer assaulted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 19, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Scribe, photographer assaulted

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE MARCH 18. The Left Democratic Front (LDF)-sponsored dawn-to-dusk hartal call in protest against the alleged police action on those demanding a judicial inquiry into the Muthanga incident, all over the State on Monday, passed off uneventfully except for an alleged police attack at Kakkodi this morning on a reporter and photographer of a local daily.

The team from the Deepika daily had gone to the Kakkodi Baazar on learning that a protest programme by the hartal supporters had turned violent and that personnel from the Malabar Special Police were at the spot to control the protesters.

In the melee that followed, the large posse of police allegedly turned its ire on the two — the photographer, T. Mohandas, who had captured the scene in his camera, and the reporter, K.M. Santhosh for gathering the details.

The digital camera of Mr. Mohandas was reportedly damaged and confiscated and the two were assaulted by the police.

According to sources at the newspaper, the police further demanded another camera in the custody of the photographer and removed the film roll. The bike on which they travelled was also allegedly damaged by the police.

The two have been admitted to the Medical College Hospital here for treating the injuries sustained allegedly due to lathi attack by the police.

Sources at the District Education Office informed that though students and teachers found it difficult to reach the exam centres, the examination commenced on time. Schools had made arrangements for substitute invigilators.

As many as 11 students failed to turn up at 11 centres in the district, including at Payanakkal H.S. JDT Islam H.S., Kuttikattoor H.S. and Imbichi Bava H.S.

With petrol pumps remaining closed, many of the autorickshaws were forced to stay off the road for want of fuel. Only a few private buse operators preferred to ply their vehicles.

The windowpanes of the Kerala State Electricity Board Office at Kallayi was damaged in stone throwing by the agitators. Groups of hartal supporters held processions in the city and suburbs.

KUWJ, KJU protest

Meanwhile, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) organised a protest to the office of the City Police Commissioner and handed over a memorandum to him demanding action against the guilty officers. The Police Commissioner has promised to look into the matter.

The Kerala Journalists Union (KJU) has condemned in the strongest term the heinous and unprovoked assault by the police on its district vice-president, and Deepika correspondent, Mr. Santosh and Mr. Mohandas.

The KJU State treasurer, Suresh Pattambi, and the district secretary, Biju Govind, in a statement here today said that the police action was a blatant attack on the freedom of the Press.

Mr. Santosh and Mr. Mohandas have made it clear that the police brutally assaulted them even after they gave evidence of their identity.

The KJU office-bearers have appealed to the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony and the North Zone Inspector General of Police, Venugopal K. Nair, to take stringent action against the errant constables of the MSP.

Both the KJU and KUWJ took out a protest march to the office of the Police Commissioner in the afternoon.

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